Threlfall on target as Barnoldswick Town win again

MARK Threlfall headed the winner as Town continued their title push with victory over AFC Liverpool on Saturday.

Liam Blades came close early on, forcing Matthew Kasbarian in the Liverpool goal to scramble to push the ball out of danger at the far post.

On 15 minutes, Blades then swung in a corner which Kasbarian palmed away, but Ashley Alderson headed the ball back towards the far post where Threlfall jumped above the defence to head in from less than a yard out.

Town continued to pressure the Liverpool defence, and from another corner, the ball broke to Alderson, whose shot from 10 yards was cleared off the line to safety.

Just before half-time Liverpool should have equalised, Francis Barry getting clear of the Town defence, with his shot beating Marko Marosi in the Town goal but also the far post, with skipper River Humphreys unable to turn it in.

After the break, a long throw by Bill Williams saw Billy Priestley head the ball against the bar with Kasbarian beaten, and a melee ensued before the ball was cleared.

It looked like Town would score at anytime, but as they failed to increase their lead, Liverpool came more into the game, and shots from Daniel Hand and Barry caused problems.

Then on 70 minutes, Muktar Mahama, who was a handful all afternoon, released Barry in on goal, but he shot over the bar.

Five minutes later Priestley made a magnificent tackle on Barry to stop what would surely have been the equaliser.

The final action came in the form of a red card for the Liverpool left back Shaun Harris.

Substitute James Oldroyd streaked away after a clearance that exposed the Liverpool defence as they pushed forward looking for an equaliser, and he just nicked the ball before Harris, whose tackle brought him down as he looked to be clear on goal, giving the referee no option but to dismiss him.

Town held on for the win and lie third, two points off top spot, with a trip to Runcorn Town next up tomorrow.

On Tuesday night, they also progressed in the West Riding County Cup, winning 4-1 at Armthorpe Welfare in the first round.

Town gave debuts to Kieron Lee and Sam Reeves, and after travelling for two and threequarter hours, the bus finally made it half an hour before kick-off.

Armthorpe settled the quicker, but Town began to trouble the home defence, and on the stroke of half-time Town were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the area when Aaron Hollindrake was brought down.

Lewis Jordan stepped up to take the free kick and blasted it low along the ground past the defensive wall into the far corner.

After the break, a Town was curled into the Armthorpe area, it took a wicked bounce and appeared as if it was going over the keeper’s head, but Jordan was adjudged to have used his hand as the ball ended up in the net.

The referee gave him a second yellow card and then red, to put Town down to 10 men with 35 minutes left.

Worse was to follow as Aspinall sent a looping header into the far corner of Marosi’s net to bring the scores level.

But Town regained the lead after 75 minutes, as Danny Morton picked up the ball and sent a perfect cross over the defence to Lee, who hit the ball first time from 10 yards out, easily beating Biggs.

With 10 minutes left Town brought on Threlfall, and instantly he picked up a great ball from Blades and squared for Lee to smash home from just inside the box.

Threlfall got himself on the scoresheet with a minute left, as his shot at goal was deflected by a defender, causing it to loop up over Biggs.

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